I was sitting at the bar of the Rose and Thorn thinking about Royce. I hadn't seen him all day and hadn't touched him in over a week. I never thought I'd say it, but I actually missed the selfish little thief. He was so talented - he could pick any lock in less than a minute, scale any wall as agile as a cat, and make my body nearly sing with pleasure. Living the road together had been maddening at times, but what had begun as forced intimacy between us had turned into real intimacy.

I was only half listening to Dixon "... and the judge asked 'But where are the cows?' and the painter answered, 'Well, seeing as they'd eaten all the grass, there wasn't much point in them hanging around. So they went too."

I clapped slowly, "Good one Dixon. Have you heard the one about the crow and lion?" We'd been nursing our pints and swapping tall tales for over an hour. With the bartender, there was never a shortage of stories to tell. The common room of the tavern was half full of a mixed group of journeymen, shopkeepers, and off duty men-at-arms. Although the place always smelled of ale, savory meats, and pipe smoke. It felt like home, or at least as close as I'd ever come to calling a place home.

Emerald leaned out from the doorway to the kitchen and called out, "Oh that's a good one. I want to hear you tell it." She bounced over, her trim body moving hypnotically, and sank down into my lap. Emerald was petite and young and very pretty. She smiled up at me, her eyes all fire and sass, "Go on Hadrian, provide some entertainment for us."

I couldn't resist her playful tone and replied, "Perhaps I should tell the story about the milkmaid and her butter churn. That's much more ... entertaining."

Dixon was about to say something decidedly boring when a handsome blond man in a loud purple tunic, tight blue hose and impressive plumed hat strolled in and called out, "Hadrian! How fortunate for me find you. You look the very picture of good health."

Emerald looked disappointed and hopped off my lap. She knew there'd be no more flirting when business was at hand.

I smiled, stood up and reached out to greet the flamboyant noble, "Albert, how are you? Got a job for us?"

After clapping me on the back, Albert started heading for the old storage room that we used for meetings at the back of the inn. We called it The Dark Room. "Yes, might Royce be here?"

I grabbed my pint and followed the viscount. Even though I hadn't seen Royce all day, I knew that if he was anywhere in the tavern, or even across the street at Medford House, he would have heard Albert's entrance. "He'll be along any minute now." I answered.

I remembered when Royce and I had first met Albert months ago. Royce and I'd had quite the argument. We had both been proud and stubborn. Thinking back, I realized how close it had come to nearly ending our partnership barely a year after it had begun. We had been tricked into confronting Albert, or rather I'd been tricked. The viscount had been a pathetic drunk, nearly naked and squatting in an abandoned barn. Royce had seen through the ruse but had let me take the bait. I'd been angry at Royce for letting us lose all our gear and horses just to prove a point. Even after Royce realized we could make good use of Viscount Albert Winslow, he still wouldn't admit that it had been a good thing I'd agreed to investigate the vagabond in the barn. He insisted it was a mistake and that I was naive to take people at their word.

When we'd bedded down that night, Royce had gone up to the barn loft. I had debated whether to join Royce or find a place on the ground across from Albert. At first I'd thought that with Albert only a few feet away, perhaps Royce was more comfortable sleeping apart. I knew Royce was an intensely private person. He hated showing affection if anyone else was watching; it was too much like vulnerability to him. It was a small miracle that he'd come to trust me enough to reveal his attraction to me. I decided to lay down in the straw on the ground alone, the anger still simmering inside me.

At first I had tossed and turned, uncomfortable and cold. Almost every night during our travels, Royce and I had slept together. His head invariably ended up on my shoulder, usually with his back pressed to my chest. At that moment, lying in the ruined barn by myself, with only itchy straw for company, I suddenly felt very alone. It sounded like Albert was asleep. I pictured Royce sleeping only a few feet away, probably being smug, and I couldn't take it. Albert could go to hell if he didn't like working for two men who slept together.

I climbed up to the loft and lay down next to Royce, just inches away. I wondered if he would stay that way, or worse, move away. Then, soundlessly, he turned to face me, tucking one arm up next to my chest, the other arm on my side, his head resting on my shoulder. The tension I'd been feeling drained from my body and I relaxed, feeling his familiar warmth against me. That night, as I drifted off to sleep, the wind occasionally rustling through the ruined roof, I knew we'd be alright; we were still partners.

It had been over a year since that night we'd first met Albert and now we had separate rooms at the Rose and Thorn. Although our ardor had cooled since those first months, in some ways Royce and I were more intimate than ever. It was uncanny how we anticipated the other's moves and knew precisely what the other was thinking. We worked together seamlessly. Arcadius had been right - we were good together.

Sure enough, when Albert and I entered the small dark room at the back of tavern, Royce was already there. His hood was back which meant he was in a good mood, or at least, he wasn't in a bad mood.

"Good to see you pal," I said smiling broadly at Royce.

"Hello Royce," Albert said as he sat down. "I believe we'll be earning a bit more gold soon. Lady Audrey Bonnet wants you to steal painting for her."

Royce nodded, "Hello Albert." Then to me, "Hadrian," then back to Albert, "Sounds promising. Go on."

I took a seat, propped my feet up on the table, and took a sip of ale. We fell into a comfortable rhythm, Royce and I listening to Albert explain the job offer and assessing it for risk and potential.

Albert explained, "Lady Audrey Bonnet and her brother are renowned art collectors. Their family, although noble, has no land. For generations they have depended on the acquisition and sale of valuable art for an income. Her brother, Lord Bonnet, is currently in Delgos on an expedition. They keep most of what they collect for themselves, occasionally selling a statue or a painting from time to time. The Bonnet house is a reportedly a treasure trove of precious works of art from all over Elan."

I asked, "But we're not stealing from her, we will be stealing for her?"

Albert answered, "Precisely. Apparently Lord Philip has acquired a painting that Lady Audrey has been trying to locate for years. It is a very old devotional painting by a famous religious artist, Benvenuto. Lord Philip plans to host a salon to exhibit this painting. It will be a huge embarrassment for the Bonnets and Lady Audrey wants you to steal it before the exhibition."

Royce's eyes narrowed slightly and his brow furrowed. It was that look he got when he knew something didn't make sense, "If we steal if from Philip and give it to Audrey, she'll never be able to display it in public or sell it. What's in it for her?"

I answered, "Like Albert said, this is about reputation. She'll be embarrassed if some other art lover shows her up."

"How much is she offering?" Royce asked Albert.

"She'll give you 10 gold tenets as an advance and 30 more once you deliver the painting."

I sat up in my seat. "What do you think Royce? This job sounds pretty good to me." I liked that we'd make a good profit and the only thing to get harmed would be some fancy noble's pride.

Royce caught the look in my eye. He knew I preferred to avoid fighting, or rather killing. He said, "First, I want to ask Lady Audrey some questions and have a look at where the painting is being kept. If everything is as straightforward as it sounds, I agree, this job sounds fine."

"Excellent." Albert said. This job would mean an easy profit for him too.

Then, Albert told Royce where the painting was being kept at Lord Philip's estate. The viscount also agreed he would bring Lady Audrey for a meeting the next day to finalize the deal.

After Albert bid us goodnight and left the room, Royce came over and slipped his arms around my waist. The embrace was unexpected, but not unwelcome. The side of his face pressed into my collar bone. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. It felt good. I could smell the combination of linen, wood smoke and lavender on him - the smell of Medford House. We held each other for minute, then he let go.

He said "I'm going to have a look at Lord Philip's property tonight. I want to see how difficult it might be to obtain the painting. If there is a lot of security, we may want to up the price." It went unsaid, but I knew he also meant that he'd be out most of the night and I shouldn't expect him in my bed.

I nodded, "Sure. See you tomorrow then buddy."

As I fell asleep, I couldn't help thinking of how Royce was spending more time with Gwen. Not that I blamed him. Gwen was amazing - determined and caring, smart and beautiful, ambitious and wise beyond her years. When she'd taken Royce and I in and nursed us back from the brink of death over a year ago, I nearly fell in love with her myself. Everyone loved her. I had even heard that Dixon had offered to 'make her an honest woman.' But it hadn't taken me long to realize that it wasn't me that she had feelings for. From the very beginning, she had been in love with Royce.

He had been strangely friendly and appreciative to her, but he never showed any sign of sharing Gwen's feelings. In fact, Royce and I had kissed for the first time on the roof of Medford house. As we traveled all over Avryn the year before, working and living together, I hadn't thought much of Gwen or Medford. Royce had quickly become my best friend, and a friend with benefits. But now that we'd taken up residence at the Rose and Thorn, just by being in her presence, Gwen was working her magic on Royce.